Retrofit switch

ABSTRACT

A retrofit switch apparatus is designed to pair with a traditional switch device that has a traditional switch for accepting a first user manual operation to control a target device connected to the traditional switch device with an electrical wire. The traditional switch device has a connecting structure. The retrofit switch apparatus has an attaching device, a cover body, a replacement switch and a wireless controller. The attaching device is attached to the connecting structure of the traditional switch device. The wireless controller wirelessly controls the target device. The replacement switch and the wireless component are not overlapped to each other vertically with respect to the surface cover of the traditional switch device.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retrofit switch and more particularlyrelated to a retrofit switch capable of wirelessly controlling a targetdevice.

BACKGROUND

IoT (Internet of Things) technologies are developed rapidly and variousdevices are invented for making human life more convenient. For example,wireless speakers, door locks, lights are easily controlled by a mobilephone via Bluetooth today.

Meanwhile, there are many traditional devices like lamp or downlightinstalled in a conventional house. It would be very helpful if certaininnovative modifications are provided to turn these traditional devicesinto a controllable IoT network device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a retrofitswitch apparatus is designed to be attached to a traditional switchdevice. The traditional switch device is fixed to an environment surfacelike a wall. The traditional switch device has a traditional switch anda traditional switch surface cover. The traditional switch has aprotruding portion extended above the traditional switch surface cover.The traditional switch device being used for receiving a first usermanual operation to control a target device like a downlight connectedto the traditional switch device via an electrical wire. The retrofitswitch apparatus has a cover body, a replacement switch and a wirelesscontroller.

The cover body has a storing space for containing and covering thetraditional switch to keep the traditional switch in a default operationmode. In other words, when the traditional switch is covered by theretrofit switch apparatus, a user would not accidentally turn off thepower supply to the target device, which may cause the wirelesscontroller in the target device losing function.

A replacement switch is disposed at a first end of the cover body. Thereplacement switch is used for receiving a second user manual operation.The second user manual operation may be the same as the first usermanual operation in functions, operation modes and may have additionalfunction or operation modes compared with the traditional switch. Thesecond user manual operation is performed by the wireless controller,not the original traditional switch connecting to the target device viathe connection wire.

The wireless controller is disposed at a second end of the cover body.The wireless controller is electrically directly or indirectly connectedto the replacement switch for converting the second user operation to awireless control command to control the target device. For example, thereplacement switch may use optical, mechanical, electronic or othermethods for receiving user operations. The wireless controller receivesthe operation result by sensor, a signal line or any other approaches.

In some embodiments, the first end where the replacement switch isdisposed and the second end where the replacement switch is disposed areat opposite ends of the cover body. In other words, in such embodiments,the replacement switch and the wireless controller are placed at twodifferent and opposite ends of the cover body. This would helpminimizing the height during design and make the overall design morebalance.

In some embodiments, the first end where the replacement switch isdisposed is at center portion of the cover body, and the second wherethe replacement switch is disposed is at peripheral area with respect tocenter portion of the cover body. In such embodiments, the replacementswitch is in the middle of the cover body while the wireless controlleris located at peripheral area away from the middle area of the coverbody so as to prevent damage to the wireless controller which maycontain sensitive circuits. With such design, the reliability and lifespan is increased.

In some embodiments, the replacement switch has two buttons respectivelylocated at two opposing peripheral areas of the cover body and thewireless controller is located in the central portion of the cover body.In such embodiments, the wireless controller is still distant, incertain way, from the two buttons.

In some embodiments, the replacement switch has a mechanical switchconnected to the wireless controller with a signal line. In other words,the wireless component does not need to be disposed under thereplacement switch. Instead, the wireless component may be disposed awayfrom the replacement switch but still is able to receive necessaryoperation signal.

In some embodiments, the replacement switch has a switch circuit forconverting the second user manual operation to an electrical signaltransmitted to the wireless controller via the signal line. In otherwords, the replacement switch may have a mechanical portion, anelectronic portion like a touch area, and also have related circuits totranslate user operations into electronical signal that may betransferred to the wireless controller to be used for controlling thetarget device.

In some embodiments, the wireless controller has a module housing to beintegrated to the cover body and the wireless controller is detachablefrom the cover body so that the wireless controller with the same modulehousing matches to different sizes and types of the cover bodiescorresponding to different traditional switch devices. In other words,the wireless controller may be manufactured as a standard module tomatch different cover body containing one or more replacement switchescorresponding to different traditional switch devices. Duringinstallation, a user only needs to install the wireless controller intothe matched cover body to match any specific type of traditional switchdevice. In such design, the wireless controller may be installed fromtop side. It would be also a benefit to arrange the wireless controllernot overlapping the replacement switch on the cover body to more easilyimplement such design.

In some embodiments, the cover body has a slot for receiving the modulehousing, and the slot is arranged horizontally neighboring to thereplacement switch with respect to the environment surface instead ofoverlapping with the replacement switch vertically. In other words, suchwireless controller module may be installed into the slot, which isconvenient and flexible.

In some embodiments, the replacement switch is arranged horizontallyneighboring to the wireless controller with respect to the environmentinstead of overlapping to the wireless controller vertically. There maybe certain distance between the replacement switch and the wirelesscontroller. In such embodiments, the wireless controller is not underthe replacement switch.

In some embodiments, the cover body has a bottom part and a top part.The replacement switch is disposed at the top part and the bottom partis attached to the traditional switch surface cover. The bottom part hasa plurality of supporting walls defining the storing space for coveringthe traditional switch so as to keep the traditional switch not operatedby a user when the traditional switch is covered in the storing space.In other words, the walls define the storing space for covering thetraditional switch.

In some embodiments, the replacement switch has a light guide componentto detect the second user manual operation. A sensor is used with thelight guide component to convert the second user manual operation to thewireless controller to control the target device. Such light guidecomponent is used as part of an optical switch, which may be morereliable compared with pure mechanical and electrical switch. An LEDlight is transmitted and detection of whether such light signal ischanged is used for determining whether a predetermined operation isperformed by a user.

In some embodiments, the replacement switch has two buttonscorresponding two operation modes of the target device. The two buttonschange a status of the light guide component when the two buttons arepressed. With such design, the operation of the user is collected andresponded by the wireless controller.

In some embodiments, the replacement switch may further have one oremore silicon dioxide components corresponding to buttons to detect thesecond user manual operation and to make the pressing more comfortableand to prevent damage of the buttons. A decoder is used with the silicondioxide component to convert the second user manual operation to thewireless controller to control the target device.

In some embodiments, the replacement switch has two buttonscorresponding two operation modes of the target device. The two buttonscorrespond to two silicon dioxide components to generate signalscorresponding associated to the second user manual operations when thetwo buttons are pressed.

In some embodiments, the retrofit switch apparatus also has a circuitboard for supporting the wireless controller and a switch circuitarranged horizontally with respect to the environment surface andwithout overlapping with each other. In other words, the wirelesscontroller and the components of the replacement switch are notoverlapped.

In some embodiments, there is a hole in the middle of the circuit boardso that a portion of the traditional switch extends through the hole ofthe circuit board. This is particularly helpful to design a standardretrofit switch apparatus to be compatible with different size and typesof traditional switch.

In some embodiments, the retrofit switch apparatus also has a hingebetween the top part and the bottom part so that the top part isoperable to be rotated with respect with the bottom part to change abattery of the wireless controller. In other words, the top part may berotated with respect to the bottom part to expose the inside portion ofthe top part to a user when necessary.

In some embodiments, when the top part is rotated, the traditionalswitch is exposed to a user so that the user is able to control thetraditional switch. When the top part is rotated, it is also easier tochange a battery of the wireless controller.

In some embodiments, the wireless controller is electricallydisconnected from the traditional switch device. In other words, theretrofit switch apparatus is attached to the traditional switch devicebut does not get electrical contact with the power source connecting tothe traditional switch device.

In some embodiments, the traditional switch device may have a modeswitch. When the retrofit switch apparatus is attached to thetraditional device, the mode switch is activated so that the targetdevice is kept supplied with electricity via the traditional switchdevice. Such mode switch may be a mechanical lever or an electronicsignal receiver. When the retrofit switch is attached to the traditionalswitch device, the mode switch of the traditional switch device isactivated so that the traditional switch device may change its behavior.For example, even a user switches the traditional switch, the targetdevice may still be kept providing electrical current.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a retrofitswitch apparatus. In an embodiment, the retrofit device is attached to atraditional switch device. The traditional switch device is fixed to anenvironment surface like a wall. The traditional switch device may alsobe fixed to other surface like a table, a cabin, car housing and anyother devices that traditionally has traditional switch. Examples ofsuch traditional switch includes but not limited to in-wall switcheslike On/Off Switches, keypads, digital switches, occupancy sensingswitches, push-button switches, dimming switches such as rotary dimmers,slide dimmers, digital dimmers, and step dimmers.

Such traditional switch device has a traditional switch mounted on atraditional switch cover surface for accepting a first user manualoperation to control a target device. The target device may be a light,an air conditioner, a fan or any other electrical device connected tothe traditional switch device with an electrical wire. In someembodiments, such electrical wire is embedded behind a wall. Thetraditional switch device also has a connecting structure.

The retrofit switch apparatus has an attaching device, a retrofithousing and a control circuit.

The attaching device is used for attaching to the connecting structureof the traditional switch device. The retrofit housing is connected tothe attaching device. The control circuit is connected to the retrofithousing for wirelessly controlling the target device. For example, thecontrol circuit may support Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi or other wirelesscommunication standard or customized communication protocols.

In some embodiments, the connecting structure is a socket and theattaching device has a pin to plug into the socket. Such connectingstructure may be a standard electrical socket that may be found in mosthouses for providing electrical power to electric devices. In such case,the attaching device may be a standard electrical plug, i.e. having twoor more metal plugs associated to standard electrical sockets.

In some embodiments, the attaching device further forwards electricalpower from the connecting device to the control circuit when theretrofit switch apparatus is attached to the traditional switch device.With such arrangement, the control circuit has reliable and constantpower supply and users do not need to worry to replace batteries for theretrofit switch apparatus.

In some embodiments, the connecting structure is a standard USB socketand the attaching device has a corresponding USB plug to plug into thestandard USB socket. In other words, a regulated DC current is providedby the traditional switch device. This saves cost of the design of theretrofit switch apparatus.

In some embodiments, the connecting structure has a first hook structureand the attaching device is a second hook structure corresponding to thefirst hook structure for hooking the retrofit switch apparatus to thetraditional switch device while remaining detachable connectionrelation. Various hook structures may be designed and all suchvariations including different pairing structures should be regardedwithin the invention scope. For example, plugs and associated grooves orsockets may be provided for forming such hook structures. Such hookstructures may be designed so that users may easily take the retrofitswitch apparatus away from the traditional switch device. Certain fixinglevel may also be applied to make it more difficult to un-hook theretrofit device from the traditional switch device.

In some embodiments, the retrofit housing exposes the traditionalswitch. Meanwhile, while the retrofit switch apparatus is connected tothe traditional switch device, the traditional switch is disabled evenwhen the traditional switch is operated by a user. The may be achievedby mechanical structure or electrical structure. For example, a sensormay be applied to detect existence of the retrofit switch apparatus. Thefunction of the traditional switch may be disabled, i.e. not effect foroperation thereof. Mechanical structures may be designed in thetraditional switch device by physically triggering disabling functionwhen the connecting device is attached with the attaching device.

In some embodiments, the attaching device changes operation mode of thetraditional switch device to disable the traditional switch when theattaching device is connected to the traditional switch device.

In some embodiments, the traditional switch device may have a disablingswitch to disable the traditional switch even when the traditionalswitch is operated by a user. For example, a toggle button may bedisposed on the traditional switch device.

In some embodiments, the retrofit housing hides the traditional switchso that the traditional switch is not operated when the retrofit switchapparatus is connected to the traditional switch device. In other words,the retrofit housing prevents a user to touch the traditional switch sothat to prevent accidentally turning off power supply to the targetdevice on which a control circuit may needs such power supply to worknormally.

In some embodiments, the attaching device may have a rotating device forrotating the retrofit housing with respect to the traditional switchdevice. For example, a rotating hinge may be used for rotate theretrofit housing with respect to the traditional switch device. Theattaching device may be a bracket fixed on the traditional switch deviceand contains an axis for connecting a portion of the retrofit housing sothat a user may rotate the retrofit housing with respect to thetraditional switch device.

With such design, the retrofit switch device may have a battery box.When the retrofit housing is rotated with respect to the traditionalswitch device, the battery box is facing to a user for the user toreplace a battery in the battery box.

With such design, when the retrofit housing is rotated with respect tothe traditional switch device, the traditional switch may be exposed toa user for the user to operate the traditional switch. This is veryimportant because with such design, a user may easily operate thetraditional switch in accident scenario, in the case which a user wantsto replace a bulb of the target device, or in the case that the retrofitswitch apparatus functions abnormally.

In some embodiments, the traditional switch cover surface has a standardelectrical socket and the attaching device has a standard electricalplug to plug into the standard electrical socket. It is common to findsuch traditional switch in various houses. Or ore two light switchestogether with one or two standard electrical sockets are integrated as atraditional switch device placed on a wall. In such case, the retrofitswitch apparatus is plugged into the electrical socket to attach theretrofit switch apparatus overlapping and covering the originaltraditional switch on the wall. Meanwhile, the retrofit switch apparatusmay include an external standard electrical socket exposed on theretrofit housing for forwarding electrical power from the standardelectrical socket of the traditional switch device. In other words, theretrofit switch device may get power supply from the electrical socketand may simply forwards the electrical power to another device plugginginto the electrical socket on the retrofit switch apparatus.

In some embodiments, the control circuit is embedded in a controlmodule. The control module is separable from the main body of theretrofit housing. For example, a reception hole is disposed forreceiving the control module. With such design, manufacturers mayproduce the same control modules while pairing such control modules todifferent retrofit housings to fit different traditional switch devicetypes. Such design saves a lot of manufacturing cost while keepingstrong flexibility.

In some embodiments, the control module may include a touch surface forreceiving a touch operation from a user to operate the control circuit.For example, variable types of capacitor or resistor touch devices maybe used in such embodiments.

In some embodiments, the control module may be disposed with electricalconnectors to be connected to a corresponding structure on the retrofithousing to receive power supply from a battery or from the traditionalswitch device.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a traditionalswitch apparatus for connecting to the retrofit switch apparatusesmentioned above. Such traditional switch apparatus has a similarappearance like convention switch device but new features as mentionedabove. Such traditional switch apparatus has a traditional switch and aconnecting structure for connecting to the attaching device of theretrofit switch apparatus as mentioned above.

In some embodiments, the connecting structure may even supply electricalpower to the control circuit of the retrofit switch apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a retrofit switch apparatus.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate two views of a retrofit switch apparatus.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate a component used in the embodiment ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate two views of a retrofit switch apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a retrofit switch apparatus.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of another retrofit switchapparatus.

FIG. 7 illustrates attaching a retrofit switch apparatus to atraditional switch device.

FIG. 8 illustrates relation between a switch and a target device.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross section view of a retrofit switch apparatus.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B illustrates use scenarios of a traditional switchdevice and a retrofit switch apparatus.

FIG. 11 illustrates a retrofit switch apparatus rotated with respect toa traditional switch device.

FIG. 12 illustrates a traditional switch device used in an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a retrofit switch apparatus example.

FIG. 14A illustrates an arrangement of a replacement switch and awireless controller.

FIG. 14B illustrates another arrangement of replacement switches and awireless controller.

FIG. 14C illustrates another arrangement of a replacement switch and awireless controller.

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B illustrate two views of another embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 15A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates an embodiment of a retrofitswitch apparatus of the present invention.

The retrofit switch apparatus has a cover body 803, a replacement switch804, a wireless controller 805. The replacement switch 804 is connectedto the wireless controller 805 via a wire 806 so that the replacementswitch 804 does not need to be placed overlapping the wirelesscontroller 805. The retrofit switch apparatus is attach to a traditionalswitch device 801, which has a traditional switch 802. When the retrofitswitch apparatus is attached to the traditional switch device 801, thetraditional switch 802 is covered by a storing space of the cover body803. The original operation to the traditional switch device 801 is nowreplaced by the replacement switch 804. The wireless controller 805translates the operation on the replacement switch 804 to control atarget device like a downlight that is originally controlled by thetraditional switch device 801. The target device is connected with thetraditional switch device via a wire, e.g. behind a wall.

Please refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, which illustrate a top view and aside view of an embodiment of a retrofit switch apparatus. In thisembodiment, the retrofit switch apparatus has two buttons 812 and 813located on a cover body 811. The cover body 811 has a bottom part 814 tobe attached to a traditional switch device.

Please refer to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, which illustrates a light guidecomponent 815 used in the embodiment of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. Such lightguide component 815 may be acquired on conventional market and useoptical detection to determine whether there is a user operation.

Please refer to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, which illustrate the bottom part ofthe embodiment of FIG. 2A. There are two attaching devices 817, 818. onthe bottom surface 816 of the bottom part of the retrofit switchapparatus. The two attaching devices 817, 818 have related screws andgrooves. However, please be noted that other ways to attach the retrofitswitch apparatus to a traditional switch device are also applicable andwithin the invention scope.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which illustrates components of a retrofitswitch apparatus. In FIG. 5, a top part 826 with two buttons there on isto be assembled to a bottom part 819. A circuit board 824 is between thetop part 826 and the bottom part 819. There are supporting walls 821 inthe bottom part 819 to define a storing space to cover an attachedtraditional switch. The light guide component 825 is used to convertuser operation to corresponding electronic signal. Screws 823 andconnecting structures 820 may be used to assemble the retrofit switchapparatus.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which illustrates another embodiment similar tothe embodiment of FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, the top cover 830 is separated fromthe button part 829. Two silicon dioxide components 827 are added tokeep button operation more smoothly.

Please refer to FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C, which illustrate somearrangement of wireless components and replacement switches.

In FIG. 14A, a replacement switch 912 and a wireless controller 913 areplaced at two ends of a cover body 911 of a retrofit switch apparatus.

In FIG. 14B, two replacement switches 914, 916 are placed at two ends ofa cover body 917 and a wireless component is placed at the middle of thecover body 917.

In FIG. 14C, the replacement switch 919 is placed at middle of the coverbody 920. A wireless component 918 is located in peripheral portion ofthe cover body 920 away from the replacement switch 919.

Please be noted that other arrangement may be applied based on theclaimed scopes.

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide aretrofit switch apparatus. In an embodiment, the retrofit device isattached to a traditional switch device. The traditional switch deviceis fixed to an environment surface like a wall. The traditional switchdevice may also be fixed to other surface like a table, a cabin, carhousing and any other devices that traditionally has traditional switch.Examples of such traditional switch includes but not limited to in-wallswitches like On/Off Switches, keypads, digital switches, occupancysensing switches, push-button switches, dimming switches such as rotarydimmers, slide dimmers, digital dimmers, and step dimmers.

Such traditional switch device has a traditional switch mounted on atraditional switch cover surface for accepting a first user manualoperation to control a target device. The target device may be a light,an air conditioner, a fan or any other electrical device connected tothe traditional switch device with an electrical wire. In someembodiments, such electrical wire is embedded behind a wall. Thetraditional switch device also has a connecting structure.

The retrofit switch apparatus has an attaching device, a retrofithousing and a control circuit.

The attaching device is used for attaching to the connecting structureof the traditional switch device. The retrofit housing is connected tothe attaching device. The control circuit is connected to the retrofithousing for wirelessly controlling the target device. For example, thecontrol circuit may support Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi or other wirelesscommunication standard or customized communication protocols.

In some embodiments, the connecting structure is a socket and theattaching device has a pin to plug into the socket. Such connectingstructure may be a standard electrical socket that may be found in mosthouses for providing electrical power to electric devices. In such case,the attaching device may be a standard electrical plug, i.e. having twoor more metal plugs associated to standard electrical sockets.

In some embodiments, the attaching device further forwards electricalpower from the connecting device to the control circuit when theretrofit switch apparatus is attached to the traditional switch device.With such arrangement, the control circuit has reliable and constantpower supply and users do not need to worry to replace batteries for theretrofit switch apparatus.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which illustrates a retrofit switch apparatus 10to be attached to a traditional switch device 12. The retrofit switchapparatus 10 may contain a switch 101 that may be the same or differentfrom the traditional switch 121 of the traditional switch device 12. Inother words, the retrofit switch apparatus 10 may be used to control thesame or even different target devices as that controlled by thetraditional switch device 12. In this example, there are two sockets124, 125 disposed on the traditional switch surface cover 122 as theconnecting structure of the traditional switch device 12. The retrofitswitch apparatus 10 therefore is disposed with two plug structures (notshown) as the attaching device of the retrofit switch apparatus 10corresponding to the two sockets 124, 125 and to be plugged into the twosockets 124, 125.

By connecting the attaching device to the connecting structure, theretrofit switch apparatus 10 is attached to the traditional switchdevice 12. The original traditional switch 121, in this example, iscovered by the retrofit switch apparatus 10.

In some embodiment, the connection of the attaching device and theconnecting structure provides only physical connection. But, in someother embodiments, the connection may also provide power supply tocontrol circuits in the retrofit switch apparatus 10. There may also bemore than one types of the attaching device disposed on the retrofitswitch apparatus 10.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which illustrates connection between componentsof an embodiment. A traditional switch device 202 is connected to atarget device 203 via a wire 206 which is further electrically connectedto a power source 207. The traditional switch 202 may be used to turn onor turn off the target device by opening or closing an electricalcurrent loop to the power source 207. When a retrofit switch apparatus21 is attached to the traditional switch device 202, the traditionalswitch 202 is covered in a containing space defined by a retrofithousing 212. A touch module 211 is connected to the retrofit housing 212for receiving user touch operation and a wireless controller is used forcontrolling the target device 203. The wireless controller may beintegrated with a touch driver to provide touch and control functions.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which illustrates an example of a retrofitswitch apparatus 30 covering a traditional switch device 32. Atraditional switch 321 is covered in a containing space 306 of theretrofit housing 302. A touch module 301 is connected to the retrofithousing 302. Related driver circuit and control circuit 303 may beplaced aside, not right below the main body of touch module 301, e.g.under the touch surface of the touch module 301. Attaching devices 304,305 are used to attaching the retrofit housing 302 to the traditionalswitch device 32.

Please refer to FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, which illustrate differencebetween operating a traditional switch 41 and operating a touch surface42. In this example, when the retrofit switch apparatus is attached onthe traditional switch device, the traditional switch is hidden from theuser and would not be operated by accident.

There are various types of traditional switch devices in the market.Panel plates of some traditional switch devices may be replaced easily.In such case, a replacing plate with the connecting structure asmentioned here is sufficient to create a traditional switch device withthe necessary structure to form the embodiments according to the presentinvention. For example, one or more holes, extruding plugs or otherconnecting structures may be placed on replacing panel plates to convertan old traditional switch device to a novel traditional switch device tobe used in the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. FIG. 12 is a top view showing anexample of a traditional switch device. In this example, in addition totwo toggle switches 62, 63 as the traditional switches, a standardelectrical socket 61 is also existed on the illustrated traditionalswitch device. FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating a correspondingretrofit switch apparatus having two protruding plugs 71 to be pluggedinto the standard electrical socket 61 for retrieving electrical power.In addition, when the retrofit switch apparatus is attached on thetraditional switch device, the functions of the two traditional switches62, 63 are now replaced by the two switches 72, 73 on the retrofitswitch apparatus. In this example, it is illustrated that the appearanceof the switches of the retrofit switch apparatus may not appear like theassociated covered traditional switches.

In some embodiments, the connecting structure is a standard USB socketand the attaching device has a corresponding USB plug to plug into thestandard USB socket. In other words, a regulated DC current is providedby the traditional switch device. This saves cost of the design of theretrofit switch apparatus.

In some embodiments, the connecting structure has a first hook structureand the attaching device is a second hook structure corresponding to thefirst hook structure for hooking the retrofit switch apparatus to thetraditional switch device while remaining detachable connectionrelation. Various hook structures may be designed and all suchvariations including different pairing structures should be regardedwithin the invention scope. For example, plugs and associated grooves orsockets may be provided for forming such hook structures. Such hookstructures may be designed so that users may easily take the retrofitswitch apparatus away from the traditional switch device. Certain fixinglevel may also be applied to make it more difficult to un-hook theretrofit device from the traditional switch device.

In some embodiments, the retrofit housing exposes the traditionalswitch. Meanwhile, while the retrofit switch apparatus is connected tothe traditional switch device, the traditional switch is disabled evenwhen the traditional switch is operated by a user. The may be achievedby mechanical structure or electrical structure. For example, a sensormay be applied to detect existence of the retrofit switch apparatus. Thefunction of the traditional switch may be disabled, i.e. not effect foroperation thereof. Mechanical structures may be designed in thetraditional switch device by physically triggering disabling functionwhen the connecting device is attached with the attaching device.

In some embodiments, the attaching device changes operation mode of thetraditional switch device to disable the traditional switch when theattaching device is connected to the traditional switch device.

In some embodiments, the traditional switch device may have a disablingswitch to disable the traditional switch even when the traditionalswitch is operated by a user. For example, a toggle button may bedisposed on the traditional switch device.

In some embodiments, the retrofit housing hides the traditional switchso that the traditional switch is not operated when the retrofit switchapparatus is connected to the traditional switch device. In other words,the retrofit housing prevents a user to touch the traditional switch sothat to prevent accidentally turning off power supply to the targetdevice on which a control circuit may needs such power supply to worknormally.

In some embodiments, the attaching device may have a rotating device forrotating the retrofit housing with respect to the traditional switchdevice. For example, a rotating hinge may be used for rotate theretrofit housing with respect to the traditional switch device. Theattaching device may be a bracket fixed on the traditional switch deviceand contains an axis for connecting a portion of the retrofit housing sothat a user may rotate the retrofit housing with respect to thetraditional switch device.

With such design, the retrofit switch device may have a battery box.When the retrofit housing is rotated with respect to the traditionalswitch device, the battery box is facing to a user for the user toreplace a battery in the battery box.

With such design, when the retrofit housing is rotated with respect tothe traditional switch device, the traditional switch may be exposed toa user for the user to operate the traditional switch. This is veryimportant because with such design, a user may easily operate thetraditional switch in accident scenario, in the case which a user wantsto replace a bulb of the target device, or in the case that the retrofitswitch apparatus functions abnormally.

Please refer to FIG. 11, which illustrates a diagram in which a retrofitswitch apparatus 52 is rotated with respect to a traditional switchdevice 51. The retrofit switch 52 has an attaching device 522 thatdefines a rotating axis 54. When the retrofit switch 52 is rotated withrespect to the traditional switch apparatus 51 along the rotationdirection 541, the traditional switch 512 may be exposed to be usedagain. In addition, a battery box of the retrofit switch apparatus 52may be exposed and user may replace a battery 523 to power the wirelesscontroller of the retrofit switch apparatus 52.

In some embodiments, the traditional switch cover surface has a standardelectrical socket and the attaching device has a standard electricalplug to plug into the standard electrical socket. It is common to findsuch traditional switch in various houses. Or ore two light switchestogether with one or two standard electrical sockets are integrated as atraditional switch device placed on a wall. In such case, the retrofitswitch apparatus is plugged into the electrical socket to attach theretrofit switch apparatus overlapping and covering the originaltraditional switch on the wall. Meanwhile, the retrofit switch apparatusmay include an external standard electrical socket exposed on theretrofit housing for forwarding electrical power from the standardelectrical socket of the traditional switch device. In other words, theretrofit switch device may get power supply from the electrical socketand may simply forwards the electrical power to another device plugginginto the electrical socket on the retrofit switch apparatus.

In some embodiments, the control circuit is embedded in a controlmodule. The control module is separable from the main body of theretrofit housing. For example, a reception hole is disposed forreceiving the control module. With such design, manufacturers mayproduce the same control modules while pairing such control modules todifferent retrofit housings to fit different traditional switch devicetypes. Such design saves a lot of manufacturing cost while keepingstrong flexibility.

In some embodiments, the control module may include a touch surface forreceiving a touch operation from a user to operate the control circuit.For example, variable types of capacitor or resistor touch devices maybe used in such embodiments.

In some embodiments, the control module may be disposed with electricalconnectors to be connected to a corresponding structure on the retrofithousing to receive power supply from a battery or from the traditionalswitch device.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a traditionalswitch apparatus for connecting to the retrofit switch apparatusesmentioned above. Such traditional switch apparatus has a similarappearance like convention switch device but new features as mentionedabove. Such traditional switch apparatus has a traditional switch and aconnecting structure for connecting to the attaching device of theretrofit switch apparatus as mentioned above.

In some embodiments, the connecting structure may even supply electricalpower to the control circuit of the retrofit switch apparatus.

Please refer to FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B and FIG. 16, which illustratesanother embodiment according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the retrofit switch apparatus has a ON/OFF button932 and two brightness adjustment buttons 933, 934. The ON/OFF button932 and two brightness adjustment buttons 933, 934 are used for turningon/off and adjusting brightness of the target device like a bulb.

In this embodiment, two circuit board 951, 952 are disposed. The circuitboard 951 is for supporting button components 942, 943, 944 forreceiving operation from the ON/OFF button 932 and two brightnessadjustment buttons 933, 934. The operations are converted to signals andtransmitted to a wireless controller 953 located on the circuit board952 via a wire 962.

The two circuit boards 951, 952 are fixed on a bracket 963 to beattached to a traditional switch device as mentioned above. There is ahole 961 for a traditional switch to be entered and covered by theretrofit switch apparatus. Please be noted that the ON/OFF button 932and two brightness adjustment buttons 933, 934 and their associatedstructures are far away from the wireless controller 953, which is at anopposite end 935 of the retrofit switch apparatus. Other configurationof buttons, of course, are also covered by the present invention and maybe changed by persons of ordinary skill in the art in light of thisspecification.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown arepreferred embodiments thereof and that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of the inventionor scope as defined in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A retrofit switch apparatus for beingattached to a traditional switch device, the traditional switch devicebeing fixed to an environment surface and having a traditional switchand a traditional switch surface cover, the traditional switch having aprotruding portion extended above the traditional switch surface cover,the traditional switch device being used for receiving a first usermanual operation to control a target device connected to the traditionalswitch device via an electrical wire, the retrofit switch apparatuscomprising: a cover body having a storing space for containing andcovering the traditional switch to keep the traditional switch in adefault operation mode; a replacement switch disposed at a first end ofthe cover body, the replacement switch receiving a second user manualoperation; and a wireless controller disposed at a second end of thecover body, the wireless controller electrically connected to thereplacement switch for converting the second user operation to awireless control command to control the target device.
 2. The retrofitswitch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end where the replacementswitch is disposed and the second end where the replacement switch isdisposed are at opposite ends of the cover body.
 3. The retrofit switchapparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end where the replacement switchis disposed is at center portion of the cover body, and the second wherethe replacement switch is disposed is at peripheral area with respect tocenter portion of the cover body.
 4. The retrofit switch apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the replacement switch has two buttons respectivelylocated at two opposing peripheral areas of the cover body and thewireless controller is located in the central portion of the cover body.5. The retrofit switch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the replacementswitch has a mechanical switch connected to the wireless controller witha signal line.
 6. The retrofit switch apparatus of claim 5, wherein thereplacement switch has a switch circuit for converting the second usermanual operation to an electrical signal transmitted to the wirelesscontroller via the signal line.
 7. The retrofit switch apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless controller has a module housing to beintegrated to the cover body and the wireless controller is detachablefrom the cover body so that the wireless controller with the same modulehousing matches to different sizes and types of the cover bodiescorresponding to different traditional switch devices.
 8. The retrofitswitch apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cover body has a slot forreceiving the module housing, and the slot is arranged horizontallyneighboring to the replacement switch with respect to the environmentsurface instead of overlapping with the replacement switch vertically.9. The retrofit switch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the replacementswitch is arranged horizontally neighboring to the wireless controllerwith respect to the environment instead of overlapping to the wirelesscontroller vertically.
 10. The retrofit switch apparatus of claim 1,wherein the cover body has a bottom part and a top part, the replacementswitch is disposed at the top part and the bottom part is attached tothe traditional switch surface cover, the bottom part has a plurality ofsupporting walls defining the storing space for covering the traditionalswitch and for keeping the traditional switch not operated by a userwhen the traditional switch is covered in the storing space.
 11. Theretrofit switch apparatus of claim 10, wherein the replacement switchhas a light guide component to detect the second user manual operation,a sensor is used with the light guide component to convert the seconduser manual operation to the wireless controller to control the targetdevice.
 12. The retrofit switch apparatus of claim 11, wherein thereplacement switch has two buttons corresponding two operation modes ofthe target device, and the two buttons change a status of the lightguide component when the two buttons are pressed.
 13. The retrofitswitch apparatus of claim 10, wherein the replacement switch has asilicon dioxide component to detect the second user manual operation, adecoder is used with the silicon dioxide component to convert the seconduser manual operation to the wireless controller to control the targetdevice.
 14. The retrofit switch apparatus of claim 11, wherein thereplacement switch has two buttons corresponding two operation modes ofthe target device, and the two buttons correspond to two silicon dioxidecomponents to generate signals corresponding associated to the seconduser manual operations when the two buttons are pressed.
 15. Theretrofit switch apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a circuitboard for supporting the wireless controller and a switch circuitarranged horizontally with respect to the environment surface andwithout overlapping with each other.
 16. The retrofit switch apparatusof claim 15, wherein there is a hole in the middle of the circuit boardso that a portion of the traditional switch extends through the hole ofthe circuit board.
 17. The retrofit switch apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a hinge between the top part and the bottom part so that thetop part is operable to be rotated with respect with the bottom part tochange a battery of the wireless controller.
 18. The retrofit switchapparatus of claim 17, wherein when the top part is rotated, thetraditional switch is exposed to a user so that the user is able tocontrol the traditional switch.
 19. The retrofit switch apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless controller is electrically disconnectedfrom the traditional switch device.
 20. The retrofit switch apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the traditional switch device has a mode switch andwhen the retrofit switch apparatus is attached to the traditionaldevice, the mode switch is activated so that the target device is keptsupplied with electricity via the traditional switch device.